Ka`u News Briefs March 28, 2011

Napau Fire started March 5, sparked by lava. It is more than 80 percent contained.  Photo from Napau Fire Crew

THE COUNTY COUNCIL will spend most of its time on the county budget this week with Special Finance committee meetings all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Hilo council chambers. The goal is to establish the operating budget for July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. Council chair Dominic Yagong wants to reduce the police department budget by holding back their pay increases. Mayor Billy Kenoi does not. Yagong wants to consider continuing two-day a month furloughs for county workers, while the mayor wants to end furloughs.

Gov. Abercrombie promises more ag inspectors.  Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE has released a statement regarding the upcoming state budget and state legislature decisions. He asks: “Do we want to produce our own energy instead of exporting billions of dollars to unstable oil-rich countries? Do we want to use these dollars to pay our own solar installers, biofuel farmers, geothermal engineers and wind energy technicians? If we do then we need to connect the islands, accelerate the transition to clean energy with the right incentives, and build functioning regulatory agencies so projects aren’t stuck in paper and process.” The governor also asked, “Do we want to grow our own healthy food instead of being so dependent on multi-national food conglomerates and food and fuel grown and produced in developing countries? If we do we’ll need to repair our irrigation systems and invest in agricultural research and education. Reinstating eliminated agricultural inspectors is a step in the right direction, but that step alone won’t get us there – not even close.” The governor said that in these challenging times, everyone – including the public sector – is going to do more with less. “We must commit ourselves 100 perent to solve our fiscal crisis and focus on economic growth,” he said.

THE NAPAU FIRE that burned nearly 2100 acres is more than 80 percent contained, after more than an inch of rain and heavy work on hot spots by firefighters over the weekend. The fire was ignited by the Kamoamoa Fissure Eruption that started on March 5 and has since ended. More than 50 local and mainland firefighters and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park staff worked to protect Special Ecological Areas that are home to many endangered species.

Mainland firefighters came from national parks, forests and recreational areas.  Photo from Napau Fire Crew

HAWAI`I STATE CIVIL DEFENSE opens a Community Disaster Assistance and Recovery Center tomorrow for anyone on the island with March 11 tsunami damage. Hours at the Old Kona Airport Events Pavilion are Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center will be staffed by representatives from the Office of the Mayor in Kona, the Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Public Works along with private organizations such as American Red Cross and Catholic Charities Hawai`i. Mayor Billy Kenoi said: “This cooperative government and private-sector effort will efficiently deliver the information and assistance that our residents need for the most rapid recovery possible.”
     State Civil Defense officials are contacting all of the people who called Aloha United Way’s 2-1-1 hotline for assistance in connection with the tsunami to invite them to the meeting. Kenoi and Gov. Neil Abercrombie have issued emergency proclamations in connection with the tsunami, and Abercrombie has requested that President Barack Obama issue a presidential disaster declaration.

One Journey's fundraising CD sold out, and the band is still raising money for Honolulu.  Photo by Julia Neal

ONE JOURNEY has made the finals in the Brown Bags to Stardom’s music video competition on OC16 television. A new round of voting begins this Wednesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. on OC16. Anyone with an email address or access to the Internet can vote. Log onto brownbagtostardom.com to see the video Lover’s Dream, written by Eunice Longakit and James Tyson. The band, under the direction of Ka`u High School teacher Laura Saijo, is still raising money to fund its trip to the Brown Bags to Stardom talent contest on O`ahu on April 23. At a recent fundraiser at KAHU FM 91.7, produced by Ka`u Productions, LLC, the band raised funds and sold out its CDs but is still short about $500. Donations can be dropped by the radio station or Ka`u High School. The band also hopes to raise money to print more copies of the CD to sell as another fundraiser.